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Is this microphone (Shure SM57) a stereo mic, or would I need to buy two of them to get the best sound? I don't know much about microphones, so I'm not sure if I'm even asking a good question. Also, what kind of "hook-ups" does it have? Would I also need to get an adapter to be able to plug it into what is the size of a headphone jack? Those of you that do use this mic, how do you set up your equipment for the best playback sound?

I have a minidisc recorder that I used quite a bit back in school, but the mic I used back then is messed up. It is a stereo mic, but now when I record, one side just records static. I mainly record just to listen back over headphones for a quick reference, but it doesn't do the job anymore now that I only can hear through 1 side.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Steve

sc_curtis wrote:Is this microphone (Shure SM57) a stereo mic, or would I need to buy two of them to get the best sound? I don't know much about microphones, so I'm not sure if I'm even asking a good question. Also, what kind of "hook-ups" does it have? Would I also need to get an adapter to be able to plug it into what is the size of a headphone jack? Those of you that do use this mic, how do you set up your equipment for the best playback sound?

Go to the Shure web site and look at the specs.
SM57 specs

For starters though, it is a dynamic mic, so you need to supply power. I don't think most phono plugs (headphone/instrument cable style) do that. They are designed for condenser mics.

ThomasDodd wrote:For starters though, it is a dynamic mic, so you need to supply power.

Dynamic mics, like the Shure, do not need external power. But, it may very well need a preamplifier.

The SM57 is a good micrphone, but I'm not sure the low-end response is really good enough for recording a tuba.

A good stereo mic with a better low-end is the Audio Technica AT822, http://www.wwbw.com/Audio-Technica-AT822-i30343.music. It also has a stereo mini plug.

Thanks for the input guys! I'll look into that other mic, which sounds more like what I want anyways!

Steve